Barrel-filling apparatus



sept. 4, 1928.

W. ERNEST ET AL BARRELl FILLING APPARATUS Filed Apr ATTORNEYS PatentedSept. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,683,331 llararir OFFICE.

WILLIAM ERNEST, OF MARTINEZ, AND EMANUEL H. BAER, OF ASSOCIATED,CALIFORNIA..

BARREL-FILLING APPARATUS.

Application filed April 23, 1927. Serial No. 186,000.

Our invent-ion relates to an apparatus for filling containers withmeasured quantities of liquids. v

The principal object of our invention is to provide an apparatus for thedescribed purpose in which the volume of liquid delivered in any givencharge can be quickly and accurately varied, in order to compensate forchanges in temperature, or to vary the amount of delivered fluid for anyother purose.

p Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and easilyoperated apparatus which will not permit spilling or waste of the liquideven if the operator be inadvertent.

A still further object is to provide an ap# paratus in which a.plurality of similar units may be coupled together for simultaneousoperation to fill a plurality of containers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following specification which should be read with the understandingthat the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts thereindescribed may be varied within the limits of the claims hereto appended,without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in saidclaims.

'With this in view, a preferred embodiment of our invention will now bedescribed fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereinFig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of an apparatus having aplurality of units arranged in two lines or rows, one behind the other.Two such units, in the front row, appear in this view, the correspondingtwo units of the rear row being directly behind the two units shown. y

Fig. 2 is a part sectional end elevation of the same apparatus, showingthe relative positions of the two rows of measuring units.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates a base or stand uponwhich the apparatus is mounted. 2 are the containers to be filled, whichin this instance are shown as steel barrels of well known form. Thestand 1 supports a plurality of liquid measuring units, identical inconstruction, each of which comprises a preferably cylindricalreceptacle 3 of a size sufficient to contain the maximum amount of fluidto be delivered to one barrel at any one charge.

The Huid is supplied to all the receptacles 3 through a common supplyline 4, positioned between the front and rear rows, and which has abranch 5, Fig. 2, leading to the bottom of each receptacle. Except forthe common supply line, the two rows of-units are preferablyentirelyindependent of each other, one bemg operated from the front of the stand1 and the other from the rear. The u nits of each row are connectedtogether for s1multaneous operation, as will be presently described. Thefluid is discharged from each receptacle independently through a pipe 6provided wit-h a suitable delivery extension indicated as a flexibletube 7 adapted to conduct the fluid to the container 2. The supply linebranch 5 and the discharge pipe 6 of each receptacle are p-rovided withrespective valves 8 and 9, interconnected by a link 10, and both areoperated by a. link 11 and a lever 12, the latter being secured upon ahorizontal rock shaft 13, as shown in Fig. 1. The shaft 13 extendsacross the entire apparatus and operates all the supply and dischargevalve-s of the front row of receptacles simultaneously. Thelcorresponding valves of the rear row`or line of receptacles areoperated by a similar shaft extending across the rear of the apparatus,as shown in Fig. 2. The shafts 13 are provided with suitable operatinghandles 14. The valves 8 and 9 are arranged for opposite operation, onebeing open when the other is closed and vice versa, so that by theoperation of the handle 14 in the one direction, fluid is admitted tothe receptacles 3,- and by its operation in the other direct-ion thefluid is allowed to flow out of said receptacles into the containers 2.

Each receptacle 3 is provided with a closed top 15, Fig. 2. A vent pipe16 is provided in the upper end of said receptacle and is adapted to beopened or closed by a manually operated valve 17. A float valve 18 isalso preferably provided to close the vent 16 when the receptacle 3 isfull of liquid, in order to prevent any waste ofsaid liquid through saidvent. An air inlet connection 19 is also preferably provided in theupper end of the receptacle 3, and is understood to be connected withany suitable source, vnot shown, of air vunder pressure. The air inlet19 is controlled by avalve 20, and said valve 20 and the vent valve 17are interconnected for simultaneous and opposite operation by a link 21.The valves 17 and 20 of the front line of receptacles are preferablyoperated simultaneously through links 22 from a. rock shaft 23 providedwith a handle 24. The corresponding valves of the Arear line ofreceptacles are similarly operated by a similar shaft and handle, asshown in Fig. 2.

In operating the apparatus, the attendant, after placing Ithe emptycontainers 2 in position to be filled, throws the lever 14 to open thesupply valves 8 and close the discharge valves 9. By means of the lever24he also opens the vent valves 17 and closes the air valves 20. Theliquid thereupon flows into the receptacles 3 through the common supplyline 4 and the branches 5. When said receptacles are full, the floatvalves 18 close' the vents 16 automaticall thereby preventing furtherflow of liqui The operator then throws the lever 14 to its oppositeposition, closing the supply valves Sand opening the discharged valves9, and he also operates the lever 24 to close the ventvalves 17 and toopen the air valves 20. The liquid within the receptacles 3 now flowsout through the pipes 6 and the delivery nozzles 7 into the con` tainers2,`and its delivery is expedited by the air pressure entering throughthe pipes 19. When the receptacles 3 are empty, the operation isrepeated.

The air supply pipes 19 and their controllingl valves may be omitted ifthe. nature of the liquid being handled is such that it will` ilow withsufficient rapidity without the assistance of air pressure in thereceptacles 3,

Vbut for operating with viscous liquids, the

use of the air connections described enables the receptacles 3 to beemptied more quickly. If the air connections are dispensed wlth, themanual valves 17 for controlling the vents 16 are superfluous.

It will be understood from the above descri-ption that the volumetriccontents of the receptacles 3 controls the amount of liquid supplied tothe containers 2 on a given charge. The mechanism for varying thevolumetric capacity-of the receptacles 3 will now be described. Adisplacement body in the form of a plunger 25 extends slidably throughthe upper end 15 of each receptacle 3, and is provided with suitableacklng indicated at 26 in Fig. 2, to prevent eakage around it.

The displacement lunger 25 is hollow, and in its upper end is xed a nut27 adapted to engage a screw 28. Thus rotation of the screw 28 raises orlowers the plunger 25 and thereby varies the volumetric capacity of thereceptacle 3. The upper end of the screw 28 has a bearing in a frame 29supported by uprights 30 from the receptacle 3, and carries va beveledgear 31 which meshes with asimilar gear 32 mounted upon a horizontalshaft 33, the latter being carried in bearings 34, Fig. 1, upon theframe 29. Each unit in the front row has an independent section of thehorizontal shaft 33, and all said sections are aligned andinterconnected by jaw clutches 35. Each section of the shaft 33 is alsoprovided with a beveled gear 36 adapted to mesh with a similar gear 37carried upon the up per end of a vertical shaft 38, the lower end ofsaid vertical shaft being provided with a hand wheel 39. Thus when thejaw clutches 35 are engaged, the displacement plungers of all the unitsof the front row may be adjusted simultaneously by means 'of any one ofthe hand wheels 39, but if it be desired to adjust said plungersindependently, the jaw clutches 35 are disengaged and each plunger isthen adjusted by Vits own hand wheel. The plungers of the rear row ofunits are similarly operated. The frame 29 preferably extendscontinuously across all the receptacles of both rows, thus forming abracing connection between the upper ends of the uprights 30.

A forwardly extending arm 40 is secured to the upper end of the plungerin the endmost unit of each row. A vertical rod 41 is secured to saidarm and extends downwardly therefrom through aguide 42. The lower end ofsaid rod carries a pointer 43 adapted to extend forwardly through a slot44 in a fixed indicator plate 45. The outerface of the plate 45 isprovided with a suitable scale 46, Fig. 2, preferably graduated toexpress directly the volumetric capacity of the receptacle 3, so thatthe attendant, by observing the position of the pointer 43 upon saidscale, can determine such volumetric capacity instantly. Each receptaclemay be provided with an independent indicating means, if desired, but assuch means would be merely a repetition of that described above, it hasbeen omitted from the drawings.

The scale 46 may be removable from the plate 45 in order to permit thesubstitution of other scales of different notation, and if desired thescale may be calibrated to express the volume of the' liquid chargewithin the receptacle 3 in terms of one or more temperature variations.

The receptacles 3 may be provided with gauge glasses, if desired. Onesuch glass is indicated at 47 in Fig. 2, and is mounted between theusual type of valved fittings 48.

It is to be noted that our apparatus does not depend for accuracy ofresult upon the attention of the operator, except to the extent that hemust adjust the positions of the plungers 25 to cause the receptacles tode-` liver the proper volume of liquid at each charge. The controllingvalves are so arranged that there can be no waste of the' liquid even ifthe attendant should neglect to operate the valves at the proper times.With the supply valve 8 open and the delivery valve 9 closed, the liquidwill flow into the receptacle 3 until it is full, and will then ceaseflowing automatically, and when said valves are in the opposite positiononly the amount of liquid within said receptacle can ow out thro'ugh thedelivery pipe 6.

It is also to be noted that there are no moving parts subject tol Wearin our apparatus. The plungers 25 are moved only when it becomesnecessary to vary the capacity of the comprising a closed measuringreceptacle having a liquid inlet and outlet; a Vent in the upper portionof said receptacle; a connection for introducing air under pressure intothe upper portion of said receptacle; valves in said vent and saidpressure connection; means interconnecting said valves for simul taneousand opposite operation; and an adjustable displacement body' within saidreceptacle for varying its volumetric capacity.

2. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising a plurality of xedclosed measuring receptacles, each having an inlet and 30 intoand out oan outlet; a displacement plunger adjustable dependently rotating eachsection;

each receptacle; means for' adjusting all said plunger-s simultaneously;and means for independently adjusting each plunger, said adjusting meansbeing adapted to prevent movement of said plungers by the liquid in saidreceptacles.

3. An apparatus for'the described purpose comprising a plurality ofmeasuring receptacles arranged in a row; an adjustable displacementplunger extending into each rcceptacle; a rotatable shaft extending thelength of the row of receptacles and divided into sections; meansconnecting'each section with a plunger whereby rotation of said sectionwill adjust said plunger; means for inmeans for connecting saidsections-together for simultaneous rotation.

4. An apparatus for the described purpose 'comprising a plurality ofmeasuring receptacles; an adjustable displacement plunger extending intoeach receptacle; a rotatable screw having threaded engagement with eachplunger for adjusting the same; means for rotating each screwindependently; and means interconnecting said screws for simultaneousrotation.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification. l

' WILLIAM ERNEST.

EMANUEL H. BAER.

and.

